[Does heliox administered by low-flow nasal cannula improve respiratory distress in infants with respiratory syncytial virus acute bronchiolitis? A randomized controlled trial].

OBJECTIVES

The aim of our study is to evaluate whether the use of heliox (79:21) delivered through a low flow nasal cannula would improve respiratory distress in infants with acute bronchiolitis caused by respiratory syncytial virus.

METHODS

We have conducted a prospective randomized controlled study. All patients fulfilled inclusion criteria were randomized to either heliox (79:21) or air via NC at 2 L/min for a continuous 24hours. Measurements were taken at baseline, after 2hours and at the end of the 24hours.

RESULTS

We have included 104 patients into our study. The MCA-S did not show any significant difference between the two groups after 2hours 4.3 vs. 4.1 (P =.78), or at 24hours after 4.2 vs. 4.3 (P =.89). No difference was found in the proportion of participants progressed to MV, n-CPAP or oxygen via nasal cannula (RR 1.0, 0.86 and 0.89) (P= 1.0, .77 and .73). There was no notable reduction in length of treatment in Heliox group 2.42 days vs. 2.79 days in air group P =.65. The in oxygen saturation, PaO2, and PaCO2 did not to have any statistical difference between the two studied groups after 2hours and 24hours of treatment.

CONCLUSION

Our data showed absence of any beneficial effect of heliox in a concentration (79:21) delivered through low flow nasal cannula in terms of respiratory distress improvement in infants with RSV acute bronchiolitis.